They say they're passionate about their cities, have their websites up and running and are logged onto Facebook and Twitter.
They are the 53 candidates running for city council in Port Moody, Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam.
Several have run in previous elections for mayor or council, a few have flown the flag in provincial and federal contests, and all say they will represent citizens in council chambers if they are elected. Nov. 19.
In one of the most hotly contested elections in recent memory, there are three people running for mayor in Port Moody. Two-term councillor Mike Clay is seeking the top spot vacated by veteran Joe Trasolini. His challengers are Robert Simons, who last ran for council in 2008 and is on the city's police board and economic development committee, and newcomer Katie Kickbush.
With three spots vacated by Clay and councillors Meghan Lahti and Karen Rockwell, 20 people are running for one of six seats on Port Moody council, including three incumbents, Gerry Nuttall, Diana Dilworth and Bob Elliott; three people who ran in the 2008 civic election (Rick Glumac, Shane Kennedy and Rosemary Small), former Green Party candidate Rebecca Helps, Kevin Hagglund, who ran as an NDP candidate in 2006, and Robert Vagramov, who lists his iPod playlist along with his qualifications for council.
In Coquitlam, three-term councillor Barrie Lynch is facing off against incumbent Mayor Richard Stewart in what is expected to be another hotly contested race, and 16 people are running for eight seats on council.
In the race for four school trustee positions in Coquitlam, Humera Ahsanullah is challenging incumbents Gail Alty, Brian Robinson, Diane Sowden and Gerri Wallis.
This year, only 17 people are running for six council seats in Port Coquitlam compared to 23 in 2008, and two people are challenging incumbent Mayor Greg Moore. They are William Issa and Patrick Alambets; Issa ran for council in 2008, when Alambets ran for mayor (Alambets, who has run twice for mayor of PoCo, is again declining to be interviewed about his campaign).
Incumbents John Keryluk and Judy Shirra are once again running for the two school trustee spots in PoCo, with Bob Lee challenging them for one of the seats.
Meanwhile in Anmore, Coun. Mario Piamonte is challenging incumbent Heather Anderson and nine people are running for council.
Anmore trustee Holly Butterfield is acclaimed, as are Port Moody trustees Melissa Hyndes and Keith Watkins (see related story, front page).
